Sensitive Jared Waerea-Hargreaves strives for greatness

It says a lot that Sydney Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves could control the compulsive nature he has displayed on the footy field to wait until he had saved the money to buy the Harley-Davidson motorbike he had desired for as long as he can remember.

Waerea-Hargreaves is, by his own admission, a ''passionate'' footballer, which means he has prepared to hurt himself or tread on his opponents' toes to secure victory. However, when his over-the-top approach was raised, the ramrod made a sage point.

''It's a corny line but don't judge a book by its cover,'' the 25-year-old said before providing, with his trademark belly laugh, an insight into the humour that had made him popular among his teammate. ''Books? I tried to read the Mike Tyson biography but was over it by the second chapter ... not enough pictures.''

Beneath the tough guy exterior NRL fans will again see on Saturday night when he takes on the Cronulla Sharks pack and the endless jokes off it, Waerea-Hargreaves paints a picture of someone who is a mix of sentiment, loyalty and devotion when he talks about the things that matter.

The prop who enjoys nothing more than the blood-and-thunder running battle he had with Canterbury rookie David Klemmer earlier this season, loves his two dogs – Boy and Diesel – so much he put a mattress in the tray of his ute because he thought the surface was too hard for them; he credited his partner Chelsea Cormac for providing him with ''balance''; he is studying to become a youth worker; phones his parents every day; and, whenever he returns to his native New Zealand, he does his mother, who works as a truancy officer, a favour by talking to children.

''I think of myself as being completely different to the perception people might have,'' he said. ''Some people just aren't a fan of losing and I'm a passionate player and I'll do anything to get that win – do anything for my teammates.

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''I play the game one way. I've been told numerous times I play it pretty hard, I don't like to take a backwards step. You learn [control] as you go along. 'Robbo' [coach Trent Robinson] has done a lot for me but maturity has a lot to do with that, too.

''Sometimes you make the mistake of judging someone before you meet them. I like to think of myself as being completely different off the field; a lot of people have said the same thing.”

He used his prized Harley-Davidson as evidence he had matured away from the fray, too.

''I bought myself a motorbike, me and 'Mini' [Anthony Minichiello] we go for a run once or twice a week. I've told Chelsea I'm in love again [laughs loudly] ... it is what I've always wanted. I saved a few years for it, budgeted for it. I know most people would just go out and buy it, but I've made those kinds of mistakes in the past. I went down the right path and it is in my garage.''

While Waerea-Hargreaves acknowledged the positive influence coach Robinson had been, he said his partner Chelsea opened his eyes to more than the tunnel-visioned pursuit of footy honours.

''She gives me that balance,'' he said with, considering the one-liners and laughs, an unexpected tenderness. ''We met in Sydney and have been together a while now. If it wasn't for her I'd be unemployed. Seriously. She's level-headed.''

Waerea-Hargreaves is a man of many faces but he said every time he looks in the mirror he sees the same thing.

''I'm a bloke not striving to be good,'' he said with a deadly seriousness. ''I’m striving to be great.''